Things are not going too smooth between Cristiano Ronaldo and his club Manchester United. The Portuguese forward’s second stint at Old Trafford has been problematic right from the beginning. While he suffered initially due to the Reds’ underperformance in the Premier League 2021-22, he is now feeling left out since the arrival of Erik ten Hag. Although United’s new manager has stressed time and again that Ronaldo is an integral part of his plan, it has not reflected much in his actions.
The 37-year-old was made to warm benches in a couple of important games (against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur) and now has been omitted from the main squad for another big clash (against Chelsea). Ronaldo will not be travelling to Stamford Bridge for Saturday’s clash, the club announced following their win over Spurs wherein Ronaldo raised eyebrows with his decision to walk down the tunnel before the final whistle.
"Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of the Manchester United squad for this Saturday’s Premier League game against Chelsea," the club statement read. "The rest of the squad is fully focused on preparing for that fixture."
Now, the Portuguese star has posted a special message on social media addressing the whole situation with some grace. Ronaldo has said that he will try to set an example for the younger generation of players. The 37-year-old also said that he will continue to work hard in Carrington, support his teammates and be ready for everything in any given game.
"As I’ve always done throughout my career, I try to live and play respectfully towards my colleagues, my adversaries and my coaches. That hasn’t changed. I haven’t changed,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram.
"I’m the same person and the same professional that I’ve been for the last 20 years playing elite football, and respect has always played a very important role in my decision-making process. I started very young, the older and most experienced players' examples were always very important to me.
"Therefore, later on, I’ve always tried to set the example myself for the youngsters that grew in all the teams that I’ve represented. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible and sometimes the heat of the moment gets the best of us. Right now, I just feel that I have to keep working hard in Carrington, support my teammates and be ready for everything in any given game. Giving in to the pressure is not an option.
"It never was. This is Manchester United, and united we must stand. Soon we’ll be together again."
